Oasis Shelter
UPCOMING DATES
The Oasis Shelter is a haven for men in New Rochelle looking for a safe, warm place to spend the night. Once each month, our volunteers prepare and deliver a hot meal to be served to men and women at the Oasis Shelter.
Volunteers are needed to prepare a simple, yet nutritious, pasta meal that feeds approximately 60 grateful friends at the Oasis Shelter. A list of all the things that are necessary for the meal preparation will be provided. If you buy the ingredients and supplies, Philoptochos will reimburse you. Otherwise, we can make all necessary purchases and bring them to you. You may volunteer to prepare the meal at your home or in the Church kitchen. You may volunteer to deliver the meal or we can do that for you. You may even team up with a friend. There are many ways to volunteer!
St. Michael's Home
Our chapter Chapter always finds ways to bring joy to the residents of St. Michael’s Home.
Grace's Kitchen
Upcoming Dates
Grace’s Kitchen first opened in the early 1970s, when parishioners of Grace Episcopal Church began providing soup and sandwiches to their hungry neighbors in the heart of White Plains. Today, the mission of Grace’s Kitchen remains the same. Once a month our volunteers pick up sandwich supplies from our Church kitchen. They have the option to either make sandwiches in the Church kitchen or at their own home. Sandwiches are prepared on the Wednesday before delivery and are delivered the next day, at 10:30A.M. on Thursday.
Philoptochos
Dear Holy Trinity Family,
During this wonderful and vibrant fall season, our Philoptochos chapter is engaged in many meaningful activities. Starting on October 15, our members came together in the Church’s social hall for a general member meeting during which we discussed our goals. On October 19, our chapter, led by chairwoman Tina Pantginis, hosted a Prosforo Baking Workshop. The next day, on October 20, we participated in the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. We raised just shy of $7,000 for this worthy cause! Thank you to co-chairs Maria Kohilakis and Margaret Papademetriou for making this event such an overwhelmingly huge success! Several members joined chairwoman Angie Lambros for a visit to Saint Michael’s Home on October 28, also known as “OXI” Day.
Our efforts continued in November. On Sunday, November 3, an Artoklasia was offered to commemorate Saints Cosmas and Damianos, the Patron Saints of Philoptochos. Thank you to Andrea Nicholas for inspiring this spiritual celebration. On November 10, Andrea Nicholas, on behalf of chairwoman Maria Fotiadis, presented grocery gift cards to a veteran representative to distribute to veterans in need. On November 14, volunteers from our chapter along with co-chairwomen Colleen Kourakos and Elizabeth Zoulis served a meal prepared by our own Chef Manny Louros, to cancer patients, cancer survivors, and their families at Gilda’s Club in White Plains. Members of our chapter returned to Saint Michael’s Home for a second visit on November 18.
This December, again, we will be delivering requested items to two schools in New Rochelle as part of our participation in National Philoptochos’ Operation Classroom initiative. Chairwoman Kathy Tzortzidis leads this effort. From November 15 to January 15, our chapter and its members, led by co-chairwomen Felicia Faia and Angie Lambros, are participating in the Archdiocesan District’s Diaper and Blanket for Babies Drive to benefit The Floating Hospital.
Mark your calendars! Our always popular annual Candlelight Dinner will be held in the Church’s social hall on December 12. This year we are honoring our beloved former president, Serene Romas! Co-chairs Anna Damianides and Maria Valliades are working tirelessly to make this year’s dinner magical. A few days later, we will have our annual Hats and Gloves for the Homeless Sale. On January 26 of the New Year, we will have a general member meeting to discuss the proposed budget for 2025.
Our Philoptochos chapter provides many ways to get involved. Once a month, volunteers at the Carver Center, led by co-chairwomen Vicki Kyriakos and Serene Romas, assist food-insecure persons in Port Chester. Chairwoman Stephanie Madouros and volunteers prepare a meal for HOPE Community Services of New Rochelle several times a year. Our Philoptochos chapter sponsors the weekly Community Food Drive led by co-chairwomen Elizabeth Gianaris and Constance Mavrovitis. Volunteers make sandwiches that are delivered to the Grace Episcopal Church in White Plains and distributed to those in need there. Thank you to chairwoman Kathy Tzortzidis for organizing this event each month. Also, once a month, volunteers prepare and deliver a meal that feeds about 60 friends at the Oasis Shelter in New Rochelle, a ministry led by co-chairwomen Felicia Faia and Stamatia Pappas. Through our Soup Run, under the guidance of chairwoman Despina Kartson, we provide a meal and various sundry items to the homeless in Manhattan. Members of our Prison Ministry, led by co-chairwomen Despina Kartson and Stephanie Madouros, will start monthly visits to a correctional facility in Bedford to conduct spiritual classes there. Finally, since September, the Knitting for Charity group, led by Sylvia Chandras, and our Book Club led by Denise Venturas, have met several times.
Visit our Church’s website at www.holytrinitynr.org, stop by our Philoptochos bulletin board in the Church foyer, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram, for more information about what dates are available for you to participate in any of these ministries and for further information about these ministries and other events.
I wish you and your loved ones a beautiful and blessed Thanksgiving!
With love,
Agathy Gerkis, Philoptochos Chapter President
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Established in 1931, the National Ladies Philoptochos Society is the philanthropic heart of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
OVERVIEW
All women of Holy Trinity are highly encouraged to consider membership in this vital group. Holy Trinity Philoptochos has over 190 members and continues to grow! Through leadership, effective national and local action, fund development and 'hands on' outreach the Philoptochos:
- Provides aid and support to the poor, the hungry, the sick, victims of disasters and all those who may need our help – locally, nationally, and throughout the world
- Promotes community awareness through instructional programs, presentations, seminars, and other educational resources
- Preserves and carries on the Orthodox Faith and its traditions for our children and grandchildren
- Works together with the Fr. Nick, the Parish Council, and all members and organizations of our parish to promote participation and community spirit
NATIONAL PHILOPTOCHOS
The National Philoptochos Ministry has over 27,500 members and 480 Chapters across the United States.
National Ladies Philoptochos website
National Philoptochos Blog
National Philoptochos Facebook Page
Ladies Philoptochos
Chapter Officers
PRESIDENT
Agathy Gerkis
VICE PRESIDENT
Andrea Nicholas
TREASURER
Angie Lambros
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY
Maria Valliades
RECORDING SECRETARY
Kathy Tzortzides
ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT
Elizabeth Zoulis
BOARD MEMBERS
Felicia Faia
Anna Damianides
Maria Fotiadis
Despina Kartson
Eirinni Copulos
Melissa Lootens
Stephanie Madouros
Constance Mavrovitis
Tina Pantginis
Margaret Papademetriou
Serene Romas
Marina Sirras
Community Food Drive
“for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink”
Each week, while doing your food shopping, please consider buying two extra items for those in need. Each item represents a meal for someone who would otherwise go hungry.
For your convenience a drop off bin is located outside the Church office.
Staples such as rice, canned tuna, peanut butter, breakfast cereal, canned vegetables, and pasta are always in great need. Each week, these food items are brought to the HOPE Food Pantry of New Rochelle.
Your contributions are an enormous help to needy families who are often faced with the continued threat of homelessness, and the difficult decision of paying rent or buying food.
Thank you for your kind support.
Knitting for Charity
Upcoming Events
Have you ever wanted to learn how to Knit or Crochet? Do you already know how and want to share your enthusiasm?
Cooking for Hope
Upcoming Dates
During the Lenten season, when God asks us to give a little more of ourselves, please join us to cook for the HOPE Soup Kitchen of New Rochelle. HOPE serves meals nightly and distributes bagged lunches to be eaten the next day, to our neighbors in need.
